Opium & opioids

News18 May 2026

How the Trump White House works against itself in its efforts to prevent overdoses

Contradictory policy moves, including restrictions on harm reduction policy, risk weakening evidence-based responses to overdose.

Events

Accelerating access to opioid agonist maintenance therapy (OAMT): An essential public health intervention

Geneva, Switzerland / Online

20 May 2026

Held alongside the 79th World Health Assembly, this inter-ministerial dialogue will focus on accelerating access to opioid agonist maintenance therapy as an essential public health intervention.

News13 May 2026

Access under fire: OST in wartime Lebanon

Lebanon’s emergency extension of vital prescriptions shows how flexible, rights-based health responses can protect people who use drugs subjected to war and displacement.

Publications16 February 2026

Confiscations, public health obstructions, and perpetual displacement: Experiences and perspectives on urban law enforcement practices during a period of 'recriminalization' among people who use criminalized drugs

Singh Kelsall et al. find that harmful policing practices persisted during British Columbia’s decriminalisation pilot and subsequent recriminalisation, including confiscations, displacement and interference with overdose response.

Publications16 February 2026

'With this you’re not chained down to something': contrasting experiences of opioid agonist treatment and safer supply program participation among people receiving prescribed safer supply

Michaud et al. find that participants in the programme report greater autonomy, improved quality of life and stronger therapeutic relationships compared to prior experiences with opioid agonist treatment.

News12 February 2026

Access without excess: how to ensure safe, balanced access to controlled medicines around the world - Call for contributions

This collection aims to bring together articles and research addressing the global challenge of opioid access and the development of evidence-informed policies to achieve equitable, safe, and sustainable pain management.

News15 January 2026

United Kingdom: Opioid overdose reversal drug could be rolled out more widely in 2026

As opioid deaths reach record highs, the UK government is considering placing life-saving naloxone emergency boxes in public spaces nationwide.

News8 January 2026

British Columbia Human Rights Commissioner releases statement on toxic drug crisis, calls on government to put politics aside to save lives

The Commissioner warned that ignoring expert recommendations on harm reduction and safe supply violates human rights while claiming over five lives daily across the province.

Publications20 December 2025

Operational and clinical procedures of heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland: a nation-wide survey study

Meyer reviews Swiss heroin-assisted treatment, concluding that it is accessible, safe, and patient-centred.

Publications11 December 2025

Characterizing non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in India: Prevalence and risk factor analysis, 2022–2024

Gunaratne et al. reveal high levels of non-fatal overdose, identifying structural, behavioural, and health-related factors that call for urgent expansion of harm reduction, mental health support, and overdose prevention.

News12 November 2025

Canada: 'Hung out to dry' — DULF pair convicted but plan challenge

Despite proving their compassion club prevented overdoses, DULF founders were convicted and now plan a Charter challenge against the criminalisation of harm reduction.

Publications10 October 2025

Opioid overdose and mortality among people who use or inject drugs in Myanmar: A large register-based study

Sjöland et al. find that limited funding and access to harm reduction and treatment services and high opioid availability cause persistently high overdose rates among people who inject drugs in Myanmar, with disproportionate impacts on migrant populations.

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